(BlackDoctor.org) — You only have so much time, and you’d love to not have to worry too much about your hair…while, of course, still looking stylish.
The secret? Low-maintenance hair starts with the right cut—and a few style shortcuts that’ll save you time, money and morning-time stress.
Make your hair last longer between salon visits…
• Don’t go too short. Although you might think super short hair is low maintenance, the opposite can actually be true.
“Super-short cuts require frequent trims and more styling than shoulder length or longer ones,” says Caroline Anderson, director of global marketing for Redken. “Plus, short hair can’t be put into a twist or ponytail when you’re short on time.”
• Say no to lots of layers. A blunt cut with long layers only in the front requires way less maintenance, and is universally flattering.
“Heavy, choppy layers require more regular cuts, and it’s often hard to make them look good at home without a lot of effort,” says Sarah Potempa, a celebrity stylist.
• Prevent split ends. To extend your time between cuts, protect your ends, since splits and breakage—which leave the bottom portion of your hair frayed and thinner—are often what send you running to your stylist.
“Shampoo less often, condition your ends, and apply a heat protector before blow-drying,” says Michael Dueñas, celebrity stylist and founder of Hair Room Service. Also, treat hair to a weekly deep conditioner to replenish moisture and seal the cuticles, meaning fewer split ends.
Save styling time…
• Focus on the sections you can see. To swiftly style a blunt cut with long layers, start by blow-drying using your hands instead of a brush. When hair is still slightly damp, apply a few drops of shine serum and finish drying while running a brush over just the outer sections—don’t waste time on the sections underneath, Dueñas says.
• If you’re curly, skip the dryer. You’re in luck: The less you do, the better curly hair looks.
“Apply a frizz-fighting cream, then twist individual curls, starting from the bottom, while you air-dry,” says Laura Boton, owner of Chicago’s Sine Qua Non Salon. Once you’ve shaped the curls, hands off.
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